The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has today (Tuesday) resumed collation of result of Rivers State governorship poll as scheduled.
The commission had suspended the process on March 10, 2019, due to the widespread disruption of elections and violence in Polling Units and Collation Centres.
However, the electoral umpire on Sunday named seventeen local government areas of Rivers State where results have been collated and ready for announcement.
They include: Ahoada East, Bonny, Akuku-Toru, Obio-Akpor, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, Omuma, Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, Emohua, Tai, Opobo-Nkoro, Andoni ,Eleme, Etche, Ogu–Bolo, Oyigbo, Okrika.
The commission also named Adoada West, Asari Toru, Degema, Abua Odual, Khana and Gokana as the remaining six local government areas where the commission is expected to commence collation of electoral results.
The INEC Administrative Secretary in Rivers State, Elder Etim Umoh, who made the revelation at the stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt on Saturday noted that election did not hold in Abua-Odual Local Government area while the process will be concluded in the other five LGAs.
The gubernatorial race is between two key contenders; incumbent Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Awara Biokpomabo of the Rotimi Amaechi-backed African Action Congress, AAC.
Meanwhile, African Action Congress (AAC) deputy governorship candidate, Akpo Bomba Yeeh, last week, resigned from the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He alleged the minister of transportation, Rotimi Ameachi of plotting to remove him immediately the process is completed and he emerged as deputy governor.
